Solo Swordmaster

Chapter 64: Fragments of Starlight

Julia Francke was a violin prodigy. Ever since childhood, she swept through concours, going on to become a professor at Frankfurt National University of Music in adulthood.

Fitting her resume, she was quite adept at teaching as well. Not once had she given up on a student before.

‘Should I just give up?’

But at this moment, Julia was genuinely thinking about ending it all.

“Have you really never learned anything before? And it’s only been a month since you picked up the violin?”

“That’s what I just said.”

Li coolly admitted that he was a complete novice.

Julia could feel her head pounding.

It wasn’t that a beginner was impossible to teach. In fact, it was actually easier than teaching someone who had already engraved bad techniques and habits onto their body.

One slight caveat—if they were young.

“Li, I will tell you in advance. I am not someone who thinks that age matters in education.”

“How proper.”

“…But it is different when it comes to the violin.”

Just why was he so happy?

The young man nodded with satisfaction as Julia explained herself as sincerely and respectfully as she could.

“Do you know why many violinists start their journey from a very young age?”

“The fervor of overeager parents?”

“No. It’s so that they can maintain flexibility in their fingers and wrists.”

The violin was a delicate instrument. Even a slight difference in something like humidity could ruin its sound. And thus, flexibility and delicacy in handling the violin was crucial as a first-class violinist—coming before even artistic nature and technique.

“Even those who start in their mid to late teens have to try exponentially harder than someone who started earlier.”

At least one was still developing in their teenage years. As long as there was potential for growth, it was possible to reach the physical requirements with enough effort.

But even then, very few could become pros—especially first class violinists.

“But it is impossible to become a first-class violinist when you only begin to learn in adulthood.”

Violinists did not just play instruments. They would merge themselves with the violin from a young age. They made themselves part of the instrument.

“Certainly, you can still enjoy it as a hobby. But getting lessons from me just for that would be a massive waste of your time.”

Don’t dream false dreams.

Some things can’t be done with money.

My lessons are more than unsuitable for you to just learn for a hobby.

So don’t waste your money and effort, and most importantly my passion and time.

Her grave gaze would have made anyone reconsider.

But the young man did not bat an eye. He scoffed.

“No need to worry. At the very least, I know my ‘ears’ and ‘hands’ will follow your lessons.”

“…Are you really sure?”

“Why do I need to be sure? It’s the truth.”

Julia’s face turned inexplicable. The answer was arrogant—snobby, even. But his apathetic attitude made it impossible to just treat as merely big talk.

Just what made him so confident? Watching Li with perplexity, a sudden sense of anticipation came to mind.

“Are you familiar with other instruments, then? Is this just the first time for the violin?”

“The violin is the first instrument I’ve touched in my life.”

“…Then are you a player? Did you get a musical skill recently?”

“Sorry to burst your bubble, but I really don’t like the constellations. I’ve never been a player. And I don’t ever plan on being one.”

In an instant, the anticipation in Julia’s eyes died down like snow under the warm summer sun. It would have been understandable if he was familiar with music in general. An instrumentalist adept at one instrument was usually quick to adjust to others instruments.

It would have been understandable if he had a skill, too. Players had abilities that surpassed both experience and aptitude.

“Then ,what makes you so confident?”

“Well, I’ve been training for an eternity.”

“Training? Are you an athlete? Although, an athlete’s body is different from a musician’s.”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

“…All right. Perhaps I will.”

Julia finally gave up trying to convince Li. She’d realized that no amount of logic or reasoning could change his mind. But it was also curiosity.

What his source of confidence was, and how much this high-spirited young man could accomplish.

“Fine. If you say so, Li. I will teach you.”

“Do you want a thank you?”

“You don’t have to. But promise me that you will try your best and practice while you’re under my arms. If you only put in partial effort, or give up while you’re in the middle of the road, I will be very disappointed.”

“Hm… All right. I can promise that. I’m sure you’re not here for fun, either.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Julia showed a faint smile. His attitude was still as pompous as ever, but it didn’t look like he was giving her empty promises. It might have been different if he was a young master wanting to show off the fact that he’s receiving lessons from a top notch musician, but Li seemed like a genuine student trying to learn the violin. Whatever reasons he had, that was reason enough for her.

She would give it her all to teach him the violin.

“You said this was your first time learning the violin… Well, music, right?”

“Yeah, basically. Just think of it as teaching a lil’ kid. It’ll make it easier for you.”

“But you know how to read scores, right?”

“Scores? You mean those pieces of paper with the jumpin’ tadpoles on ‘em?”

“……Okay, I get it. You really do have to learn from the very basics.”

Estimating what she would have to teach Limon with a few questions, Julia looked troubled. She knew he was a complete novice, but it was even worse than she had imagined.

He didn’t even know basic scales. He wasn’t just some outsider to music—had he even gone to a single music class in school before?

But Li wasn’t the slightest bit ashamed of that. As if it was only natural that he wouldn’t have learned music or the liberal arts when he was little, he asked nonchalantly.

“By the way, professor.”

“Just Julia is fine. I didn’t come as a professor to teach you,” Julia interrupted Li playfully.

That would be too unfair for the students at the music university who are there through hard work.

Li chuckled.

“All right, Julia. I have some things here and there I personally wanna ask. Can I?”

“My three sizes are private.”

“…Do you think I’m some disgraceful geezer? I’m engaged. And this is strictly related to the lessons.”

“Then, you can ask me anytime,” Julia readily nodded.

Being naturally curious herself, Julia actively supported an open-minded education where students could ask anything they wanted, and at any time.

“Is the violin good for indigestion?”

“…What?”

“You know, you ever feel better after playing? Maybe you’ve heard something like that before?”

“I mean, you might be in a better state if a performance goes well…”

“Less theorical than that. Like, does it suddenly cure cancer, or help with demonic power and Psionics training?”

“I’m not sure what you’re trying to ask.”

“Really? Then what about the feeling that you’re being watched while playing?”

“……”

Julia looked mortified as Li asked her the most outrageous questions she’d ever heard—and all with a serious look on his face.

She seemed to ponder if she could really ask him such a thing. Finally mustering up the courage, she looked at Li suspiciously.

“Are you on drugs, Li?”

***

***

Fortunately, Julia’s misunderstanding was resolved right away.

Not only had Li thrown quite the fit at the druggy accusation, he assured that he was purely curious as to whether music was good for one’s health.

Though he did have to endure getting looked at like he was part of a cult.

But besides that, and after some twists and turns, Julia left the room to plan out the curriculum.

The young man with black hair furrowed his brows and looked behind him.

“Are you having fun? Is this funny?”

“[AHAHAHA! She called you a druggy, a druggy! My goodness, she called my boss a druggy!]”

“…You’re gonna die from laughing.”

With a small ring around its ankle, the baby bluebird rolled on the piano from laughter.

“[Why would you ask that?!]”

“She’s a famous violinist. I thought she’d know.”

“[What were you expecting? She wouldn’t be a violinist if she knew that kind of stuff. That’ll be a witch or a priest.]”

It was her thoughts, not her voice. Delivered from sensors in the brain rather than soundwaves, the young man clicked his tongue at Yoo Na-kyung’s telepathy.

“Tsk. I shouldn’t have given you a telepathy item. Damned brat.”

“[Hehehe. It’s too late for regrets. WIth this item, I’m a bird with wings! Now, I can make fun of you as much as I want!]”

“You want me to take that damn item back?”

“[Ack! No take backs!]”

“Don’t you know? The giver has the right to take.”

The bird flurried to hide her ankle, rolling into a ball of fuzz. It seemed she really did not want her item taken away.

“[Nonsense/ This item is already a part of me! You can’t get it off, it’s my body now!]”

“Then I’ll cut off your whole leg.”

“[What are you, a demon?!?!]”

“Nope. But I am a human who made the Demon God run away.”

“[Sheesh, facts are foul! Be fair and square and win with incitement and fabrication!]”

“…What kind of drugs are YOU on?”

Going back and forth with Na-kyung, Limon looked to the door Julia left through.

“Well, it looked like this one ought to last a while. She hasn’t run off yet.”

“[That’s your fault.]”

“Why? I played because I was asked to. It’s their fault.”

“[But that wasn’t a normal performance…]”

Yoo Na-kyung muttered to herself like she was holding back her words.

“[By the way, Boss. Is this really training?]”

She looked at the long, sealed box further inside the practice room.

“Does it look like I’m doing this because I’m infatuated with a new interest? At this age?”

“[It’s just too interesting.’}

“What can ya do? It’s real.”

The young man swept back his black hair to reveal his true hair color, white. His haughty, blue-blooded face turned back into a cold and sharp one.

Limon Asphelder reached out, placing his hand on the box with the cursed Abyssal Black Violin.

“Whether it’s because it's special, or if I’m in a weird state—it’s clear that this thing helps me control the power of constellations.”

——

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